The Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, commonly known as the “Scottish Symphony,” was composed by Felix Mendelssohn and completed in 1842. The inspiration for this work came from his visit to Scotland in 1829, specifically when he visited the ruins of Holyrood Chapel in Edinburgh. In a letter, he wrote down a musical phrase that would later become the symphony’s opening theme.
The symphony consists of four movements that are played without breaks between them, an innovative approach for its time:
- Andante con moto – Allegro un poco agitato
- Vivace non troppo
- Adagio
- Allegro vivacissimo – Allegro maestoso assai
The work captures the moody, romantic atmosphere of the Scottish landscape and its history, though Mendelssohn deliberately avoided using actual Scottish folk tunes. Instead, he created original themes that evoked the misty, mysterious character of Scotland. The symphony builds to a triumphant conclusion in the final movement, transitioning from A minor to A major, with a majestic coda that Mendelssohn marked to be played “with grandeur.”
It was dedicated to Queen Victoria and premiered in Leipzig in 1842, with Mendelssohn conducting the Gewandhaus Orchestra.